NORTH VS. SOUTH OF THE EURO AREA IN TERMS OF OCA

This study divides the eurozone countries into two groups, the first group is "North states" and the second "South states". These two parts are mutually compared and evaluated in terms of the optimum currency area (OCA) theory. The beginning of this work introduces the basic concepts and the history of the OCA theory and the euro area. The theoretical part focuses on the definition and explanation the OCA criteria. The eurozone will be evaluated in terms of fulfillment or non-fulfillment of these criteria. The main aim of this work will be to decide which of these two parts of the euro area to a greater extent fulfills OCA criteria and which of them has a greater potential to become an optimum currency area in the future. The analysis will be based on the available statistical data